Medicare launches a pilot program offering GLP-1 weight loss drugs to beneficiaries at $50 monthly co-pay starting July 2026. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program covers medications including Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy for obesity treatment, marking the first time Medicare covers these drugs specifically for weight loss.

Eligibility requires a BMI of 35 or higher, or lower BMI with related conditions like prediabetes or hypertension. About 40% of Medicare's 70 million enrollees meet obesity criteria, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating 29 million could qualify under the new guidelines. Humana processes prior authorization requests for approved prescriptions filled at any pharmacy.

The $35 billion cost estimate through 2034 raises questions about program sustainability. Drug manufacturers agreed to supply medications at $245 net monthly price, significantly below commercial market rates. However, cost-sharing could reach $167 monthly if moved to standard Part D coverage, potentially pricing out low-income seniors.

Federal law currently prohibits Medicare from covering weight-loss specific prescriptions permanently, requiring congressional action. Insurance companies need more data to assess pricing risks before broader adoption, leaving the program's future beyond 2027 uncertain.